Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Course

This accredited course equips students for competent and ethical community welfare and counselling practice. The degree develops skills and knowledge for intervention across a range of practice fields, including (but not limited to): counselling, child protection, family support, homelessness, community corrections, youth justice, community development, aged care, family violence, alcohol and other drugs and research and policy analysis. The study program includes case management and human services practice from a management perspective.

Students complete a structured sequence in community welfare and counselling, and two practice placements in community development and human service organisations. The study program focuses on counselling, group work, community development, social policy and emancipatory practice. Students will also take an arts minor in Australian Indigenous studies, community studies, psychological studies, psychology, criminal justice or sociology, and a specialisation in disability through GippsTAFE.

The completion of the diploma meets the professional requirement of the Victorian Department of Human Services for its employees working in this field.

Students receive both of awards from the respective institutions upon successful completion of the program.

At the completion of the course students will have developed:

• values, skills and knowledge appropriate to working with individuals, families, groups and communities at interpersonal, group, organisational and government levels
• high level interpersonal skills
• skills in critical thinking and problem-solving
• specialist skills and knowledge including counselling, advocacy and education/health promotion as they relate to working with clients with alcohol, drug and mental health issues.

Students are required to undertake a 16-day field education placement and a 60-day field placement during this course.

This course is accredited by the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers (AIWCW) and the Diploma meets the professional requirement of the Victorian Department of Human Services for its employees working in this field.

This course consists of a community welfare and counselling sequence, four compulsory units and additional studies in arts. Students also undertake an alcohol, other drugs and mental health specialisation which is undertaken through GippsTAFE in flexible online mode. Students must complete 126 points in the Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling, and nine modules in the Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol, Other Drugs and Mental Health) component, equivalent to 18 points.

Students complete:

(a.) a community welfare and counselling sequence (66 points) comprising the following:

• ATS1361 Governing inequality: Foundations of social welfare provision
• ATS1362 Interpersonal practice and counselling skills
• ATS1363 Counselling and group work skills
• ATS2822 Advanced counselling and case management
• ATS2823 Community development
• ATS2825 Social issues and personal values
• ATS3848 Insights into practice
• ATS3713 Field education and practice (12 points)
• ATS3850 Human services management and practice
• ATS3851 Social policy

(b.) three compulsory supporting units (18 points):

• ATS1251 Introduction to Australian Indigenous studies
• ATS1360 Developmental psychology: Behaviour across the lifespan
• ATS1367 Sociological reflections on everyday life

(c.) one compulsory supporting unit at second level (6 points):

• ATS2364 Indigenous Australian politics and activism
• ATS2367 Australian Indigenous women
• ATS2369 Indigenous Australian human rights
• ATS2737 Social justice

(d.) a TAFE Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol, Other Drugs and Mental Health) specialisation comprising 9 modules (18 points)

(e.) further units to complete a total of 144 points, including the following:

• at least one minor in the available disciplines listed under 'Areas of study'
• 12 points of first-year level units selected from the disciplines listed under 'Areas of study'

Students must complete a minimum of 36 points at third-year level.

No more than 10 units (60 points) are to be completed at a first-year level.

Areas of Study

Available minor disciplines

• Australian Indigenous studies
• criminal justice
• psychological studies
• psychology (ARTS)
• sociology

First-year units

• Australian studies
• Australian Indigenous studies
• communications
• community studies
• history-politics
• journalism
• philosophy
• psychological studies
• psychology
• sociology
• writing

Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling